QR Code Size Guide: How Big Should Your QR Code Be?
Learn the ideal QR code size for business cards, posters, billboards, and packaging. Includes a distance-to-size chart and printing best practices.
The Scan That Wouldn't Scan
You've seen it happen. Someone holds their phone up to a QR code on a poster, squints, zooms, moves closer, moves back—nothing. The code's there, the phone's there, but the scan fails. Nine times out of ten, the problem is size. The code is too small for the distance, or the distance is too great for the code.
Getting QR code sizing right matters. Too small and nobody can scan it. Too large and you're wasting space (or creating an unnecessarily dense code if you've packed in a lot of data). Here's how to get it right.
The Minimum Size Rule
For handheld scanning—someone standing within arm's length, phone in hand—your QR code should be at least 2cm x 2cm (about 0.8 inches). That's the bare minimum for reliable scanning with modern smartphone cameras.
Why? QR codes are made up of small square modules. When the code is too small, the camera can't distinguish individual modules clearly. The result is a blurry, unscannable mess.
On something like a business card, where scanning distance is always close, 0.6 to 0.8 inches works well. For anything people might scan from farther away, you need to scale up.
The Distance-to-Size Ratio
A useful rule of thumb: your QR code should be about 1 inch (2.5cm) for every 10 feet (3 meters) of scanning distance.
So if someone will be scanning from 5 feet away (a table tent on a restaurant table), your code needs to be at least 0.5 inches. From 20 feet (a poster on a wall), you need 2 inches minimum. From across the street at 50 feet, you're looking at 5 inches or more.
This isn't exact science—camera quality, lighting, and data density all play a role—but it's a solid starting point. When in doubt, go bigger.
Size by Use Case
Here's a practical reference for common scenarios:
| Use Case | Recommended Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Business cards | 0.6–0.8 inches | Handheld, always close; ensure minimum 0.6" |
| Table tents, menus | 1–1.5 inches | Diners scan from across the table |
| Posters (3–5 ft viewing) | 2–3 inches | Trade show booths, lobby signs |
| Banners (10–15 ft) | 4–6 inches | Conferences, storefronts |
| Store signage (20+ ft) | 6–8 inches | Aisle signs, window displays |
| Billboards (50+ ft) | 12+ inches | Highway or building signage |
For very large formats like billboards, work with your printer—they'll often recommend specific dimensions based on the actual viewing distance and substrate.
Factors That Affect Scannability
Size isn't the only variable. These factors matter too:
Data density. A QR code with 10 characters (a short URL) has larger, clearer modules than one with 500 characters. Shorter content = smaller code that still scans well. If you're encoding a long URL, consider a URL shortener first.
Contrast. Dark modules on a light background scan best. Low contrast—gray on cream, or light blue on white—reduces reliability. See our design guide for more.
Print quality. Blurry, pixelated, or low-resolution prints fail even when the size is right. For print, use high-resolution files (PNG or SVG) and ensure your printer isn't scaling poorly.
The Quiet Zone Requirement
Every QR code needs a quiet zone—a margin of white space (or background color) around all four sides. This border helps scanners detect where the code starts and ends.
The quiet zone should be at least 4 module widths on each side. In practice, that's about the width of one of the corner finder squares. If your layout cuts into this zone—trimming the code too close to the edge of a card, or placing it against a busy background—scanning reliability drops.
When you generate your QR code, leave some padding in your design. Don't crop it edge-to-edge.
Testing Before Printing
Before you commit to a large print run:
- Print a test at actual size. Don't rely on screen preview. Print the QR code at the exact dimensions you plan to use.
- Scan with multiple devices. Try iPhone and Android. Older phones have weaker cameras; if your audience might use them, test with one.
- Test at the real distance. If your sign will be on a wall 10 feet away, stand 10 feet away and scan. If it's on a table tent, sit across the table and try.
A few minutes of testing can save you from reprinting hundreds of unusable pieces.
Get the size right from the start. Create your QR code with Snapkit, download a high-resolution file, and scale it appropriately for your use case. Your audience will thank you—with successful scans.
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